St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-11


made up exclusively of local talent and
the principals, who are so well and IA
Vorably known in this locality. were
locked upon as home folks. The 100
people, big and little, who were
selected to bear the honor of
producing the opera which is expected
to create the sensation of the age in the
musical world were regarded as one
happy st. Paul family. But alas, if cur
rent rumors be true, note of discord
has been touched and all the sweet bells
OF harmony have been tangled out of
tune. According to the current version
of the affair the trouble originated
in this way: During the past
winter, when Signor Jannotta was or
ganiZing his ''Alidor'' chorus; Miss Mae
Murphy, a young lady of musical celeb
rity i'll this city, was induced, with a
number of other young people, to join
the chorus organization. Having been
pupil of Signor Jannotta, who prided
himself on her musical attainmentS, she
was told by the signor that she would
be expected
TO SING THE LEADING CONTRALTO
part one night during the weeks pro-
ductioon of "Alidor. " Understanding
that the arrangement would be entirely
agreeable to MissAgnes Huntington, who
had been engaged to sing this part, Miss
Murphy applied herself aSSduOusly to
study of the part and also provided
herself with a suitable costume. Inas-
much as the liveliest local interest was
being manifested i'll the production of
"AlidOr" and the intenseSt local pride
was being excited in anticipation of its
success, it was universally thought to
be most graceful act to give some one
of the local celebrities chance to make
debut in its initial production. Every
thing went along smoothly enough until
a few evening ago, when, according to
the common report, Miss Murphy
learned for the first time that Miss
Huntington had not been consulted
respecting the matter and that her con-
sent to the proposed arrangement had
yet to be obtained. 1t was by making a
demand upon the management that if
she was expected to sing in a leading
part during one night of the engage
ment the particular night should be
definitely fixed in advance and adver-
tised; that Miss Murphy came in possess
sion of the knowledge that Miss Hunt
ingtOn had not been apprised of the az
rangement. Then it was
THE TROUBLE BEGAN,
and subsequent events have not had
tendency to heal the breach. When
Miss Huntington was waited upon and
asked to agree to the arrangement
that lady entered positive and
most emphatic demurrer to the
whole proceeding. She gave her Wis
itors to understand that she had a con-
tract to sing six nights in s'AlidOr.'' and
she proposed to stick to the text of the
contract as long as her physical strength
held out. She is quoted as saying: Am
/, professional, expected to give way
to an amateur? The public will come
to the opera to hear Agnes Huntington
sing. Shall they be disappointed by be-
ing compelled tolisten to anunknOWn?''
And Dame Rumor further says that the
oily eloquence and persuasive argument
of Sig. JannOtta was added to the plead
ingS of others in behalf of giving his
favorite pupil chance, but failed
to make an impression on the exalted
prima donna of cOntralto song. She
was relentless in her determination to
shut out local competition. 1t was a
case where there had been no provision
made for a suspension ofs the long and
short haul clause, so that was the end
of it, Miss Huntington had come all
the way from York state to sing six
nights in ''Alid0r.'' 1t was so nominated
in the bond. All that Miss Murphy
could do was to gracefully throw up the
sponge and retire from the ''AlidOr' Or
ganiZation. This is the version of the
affair as it is retailed on the streets.
In order to confirm OF deny the
lCpUlI tuC GIOBE rep
reSentative made an effort to inter
view the principals involved in the re-
port, with the following result:
WHAT MISS MURPHY SAYS.
When asked to make statement con-
ceyning the matter Miss Murphy said:
''In the absence of my father, who is
temporarily away from home, prefer
to say nothing about it. 1t is true that
/ have been badly treated and am will
ing that my friends who expected ME
to appear in ''Alidor'' shall know the
reason why will not. 1t was with the
understanding that all the arrangements
were satisfactory, that l accepted the
invitation to sing the leaning contralto
part one night of the engagement,
OF l should not have thought of
doing so. i have devoted great deal
of time to studying the part and have
provided. myself with an appropriate
costume involving all expense of sew
eral hundred dollars. OF course it is
humlliating to me and mortifying to my
friends to be ruled out at the last mo-
ment, and after so much trouble and ex-
pense in preparing myself for what L
supposed was agreeable to everybody
connected with the performance. Sig.
Jannotta has been very kind to me,
and while he may he primarily to blame,
still he has since made every possible
efIort 10 amend the wrong. He took
Zoo much for granted. Instead of re.
lying OH the generosity of professional
artists he ought to have provided
in his contracts for any contem
plated change that he had in mind. |
am not a professional musician and
never expect to be, consequently be-
yond the sense of personal humiliation
tesulting from my bad treatment, have
no feeling in the matter. / have moth
ing to say to the public, except that /
wish NV friends tO know that / will not |